Sunday, December 25, 2016

I love any time traveling movie:
."The Time Machine" (1960)
"Time After Time" (1979),
"Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" ( 1989)
"Back to the Future" I, II, and III (1985, 1989, 1990)
"About Time" (2013)
I even like "Hot Tub Time Machine
Thinking back to all my past Christmases, I never ever had to work on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. I don't remember ever not spending Christmas with my Mom and Dad. This is the first Christmas Eve and Day without my Dad. If I ever was away from either of them, I do not recall.

One Christmas I bought a trophy for horseshoes. He had won some trophies but they were used for second place and lower. But everytime he was part of the winning team, he did not recieve a trophy. So I went to a local store in Fargo ND and purchsed a trophy. I don't recall what the troyphy says.

One Christmas I gave Dad a DVD with the best of the Andy Girffith Show. We stayed up late, 10 PM, watching it. He shared remembering watching television with his mother.

He never needed anything. Finding a gift that just said "I love you Dad." was not always easy to find.

Dad loved chocolate covered peanuts Candy was always a good buy.

If I could go back in time. I would want to go back to Christmas 1968, my first Christmas. Now
But since time machinses to not exist we use pictures We are so lucky now to have ways of caputring these moments.
During the project of scanning in pictures, I have discovered some pictures from Christmas 1968. We were spending Christmas at my Mom's father's home.

Now we are not talking about a quantum leap method where I would have to take the place of someone, but as I am now. I would be a stranger, but yet Dad would know who I was.

When I think of the past

I don't recall there ever being anything like a car seat. Maybe Mom held me in her lap the whole trip. My two older brothers sitting in the back.

Weather Underground showed the temperatures for Aitkin Mn During this time as being a high of 18 on Christmas Eve. 16 on Christmas day. The days surrounding that time 18-20 for highs.

Sharing a meal with them would
be wonderful.

To sit at the table and share a meal with them.

Dad would be 47 years old. I am now
older than him in this picture

I would like to know what all the presents were. What was the music being played? I wonder if the tree was real.

Another method to takes us back to those moments is diaries. Mom will allow to me look through her diaries after she passes, but maybe I could get her to review some entries now. I would love to learn about the past Christmases. Diaries can be the best thing let us know our history. I would love to see those Christmas pasts.

Monday, December 19, 2016

The advice I received from my Dad was both direct and indirect. The indirect were those things you would see him do. You knew it was important.

Here is some direct advice he gave.

Marry a woman who had her appendix out, has a fur coat and has lots of money. And if you could find a woman like that, why not?

Here is a video of Dad giving me that advice.

Dad was asked by my brother Paul about advice Dad would want to give to future generations. Here is a clip of that.

Indirect advice.

Use the scripture daily.

After breakfast, Dad would sit on the couch at his spot, open his Bible and go through a devotional. Looking through his Bible, I could see it was not a meaningless book to him. He would in color pencil underline scriptures. It was not an old book for use in the past it was something useful now.

Pray.
Dad did not limit his prayers to before meals, but prayer was used during trials. Heading into breakfast one morning some weeks before his death, I saw Dad holding mom's hand as they prayed. Praying through the struggles coming with Aortic Stenosis.

Save money. A lesson learned during the depression staying with him throughout his life.

Get the most out of things you have. From adding a bit of water to the ketchup to get every last drop, to trying to fix glasses when they got broken, and turning two wooden grain bins into a wood shop and wood storage.

Laugh.
Dad loved laughing. When I was young, and I thought Mom and Dad were both away from home, I quickly changed clothes turned on TV as I enjoyed my time alone. Some strange noise was coming from the living room closet. I approached the door listening for the sound. I opened up the door, and Dad let out a loud yell scaring me. Boy did I jump. Dad laughed. He loved laughing.

Don't be afraid to say you are sorry.

October 2015, after having fallen and breaking his arm, afterwardsDad was in Manor Care in Fargo. One day he had a fight with mom. The next morning, Mom told me about their fight as I drove her to Manor Care. She stopped at the front desk to see if an appointment with a heart surgeon had been made. I went ahead, to find Dad eating breakfast. I sat next to him. He tells me “I said some mean things to your mother.” I nodded to him and said “I know”. He asked about her, I told her where she was.
When Mom came into the room Dad raised his right arm, wrapped in the fiberglass cast, waving her over to him. He reached up to her hugging her crying as he said he was sorry.

When I was younger school had a Halloween event where we would dress up in costumes. When I reached fifth grade I was past the level for that event. Mom and Dad concerned I was missing out, gathered items to make a custome.
So err on the side of helping people and learning they had no need. Better than not helping, and learn of them having great need.

Our father was a very wise man, May his wisdom guide me the rest of my days.

About Me

Born David but been going by my middle
name Parker for nearly 25 years now. I enjoy reading, especially
e-books since I do not need any more clutter in my life. I enjoy
listening to music. My range of music interest ranges from big band
to current day music. I have many MANY more interests. I enjoy TV,
watching movies, exploring politics, just to name a few.